Zara

Marcus hadn’t said anything about my pregnancy, and I hoped that at least he didn’t know. The concept of time vanished, for there was no window in the room.

Even sleep didn’t trouble me. The thought that they might do something even more terrible kept me awake.

Marcus and his mother left, having mutilated my hair beforehand. The scattered remains still lay on the floor, and finally, tears welled in my eyes at the sight of them. Terrifying thoughts raced through my mind, and panic gripped me.

My entire family had surely learned of my abduction, and because of my stupidity, they would confront the wrong person.

As soon as the contents of that flash drive were revealed, I knew my family would hand it over to the police without hesitation, and an innocent man would be arrested, leaving the real culprit free.

Would they find me before he and his hateful mother killed me? I needed to find a way out of here. I twisted my arms, trying to move them, but the knots were so tight my wrists swelled.

The chair was metal, so even if I tipped it over and fell, it wouldn’t break, and I’d only hit my head. While I was still lost in thoughts of what I needed to do... the door opened again, and my gaze slid over who had entered, bringing with them a new hell.

This time, it was the other woman accompanying Marcus.

I knew this one...

Cassidy, damn Cassidy.

She was smoking a cigarette, clutched between her graceful fingers, as if posing like a 70s heroine. Why wasn’t I surprised?

She openly threatened me, and here we were. Is she working with Marcus, too?

"Great job, Marcus." "I never thought I’d live to see this day," she giggled, so false, so obvious.

Her gaze slid to me, and in response, I saw only hatred and mockery. "She’s all yours. Take your revenge, too." Marcus grabbed her by the waist and kissed her temple passionately.

’Were they lovers now? They were perfect for each other, two mad, psychotic souls.’ Nova rolled her eyes.

She moved with that refined grace that was naturally hers. Stopping in front of me, she exhaled smoke directly into my face. I held my breath, not inhaling until the air cleared.

Toxic—smoke is extremely toxic to pregnant women.

A slow smile appeared on her brightly painted lips. Marcus remained behind her, his arms wrapped around her slender waist, and watching me with a nasty smirk over her shoulder. "Nice haircut, bitch," she sneered. "I told you not to mess with me; you won’t like the consequences."

The lit cigarette in her hand loomed over me. I looked at her with disgust in my eyes.

"You couldn’t get Alpha, so you made do with his scraps," I snorted, letting her know I wasn’t afraid of her.

My gaze shifted from her to Marcus, letting him know what I was saying. They had stolen my dignity, and I was sure they wouldn’t let me go alive unless they found me soon.

Bounding mad, I would never let them consume me any further than they already had. The smile vanished from her lips, and she slammed the lit cigarette hard against the back of my hand.

Blinding pain shot through me, yet I refused to give her the satisfaction of crying. The back of her hand slapped my face again and again until she grew tired.

"Shut up, you think you’re so smart. You don’t even deserve Alpha Kane. He’s mine." The taste of iron filled my mouth as I spat out the crimson liquid.

"We’re both royal types. Once he ascends to the throne and you’re gone from his life forever, I’ll sit next to him. This place is mine and mine alone."

I raised my head and stared at her with a bored expression. "If he wanted you, Cassidy, you’d be his already. He only loves himself, don’t be stupid."

Behind Cassidy’s back, his smile widened. She didn’t see it, but I did. And yet he chose to remain silent, and I remembered what he’d told me earlier.

"Kane is madly in love with you." Maybe he was right. Maybe he was trying to play with my emotions. But one thing was clear. He was using her as a means to an end, and I suspected she was doing the same.

She snapped her fingers.

She tossed away the extinguished cigarette, and I didn’t even need to look at her hand to know she’d left a scar there. The excruciating pain was distracting.

"Marcus and I? I guess that’s not how Marcus and I tricked you. We let you believe Alpha was stalking you, when in reality it was him and me." She pressed herself against Marcus, and he pressed his lips to the crook of her neck, caressing her there.

"We planned everything together to get rid of you. A few more days, and the world will be cleansed of your pathetic existence."

Her words should have scared me, but somehow I felt only peace. I had no idea where all this courage came from, but they stripped me of my pride, and nothing I said mattered.

Marcus’s hands slid freely over her body, and she moved her hips as if they were about to film a porno.

"Please! I don’t want the last thing I see is your fight. Find a room somewhere else."

He chuckled at my words, and Cassidy lunged at him, but he grabbed her by the back. "Darling! She’s right. Show me your feline charms in bed," he whispered. "Come on, we’ll come back later to sew that insolent mouth shut. I have some good suggestions I want to discuss with you."

Giving me one last withering look, she turned and left with him.

All my courage evaporated as soon as the door closed, and my shoulders slumped. Closing my eyes, I let a few tears fall, and the pain took over.

"Dad! Please find me!" I prayed and sighed heavily.

My eyes looked at my stomach, hoping he wouldn’t at least hit me.